I-797 is the approval notice of family green card petition. If you lose this document, you will need to file a I-824 to request a duplicate copy. The filing fee of I-824 is $405.00 and the average processing time of I-824 ranges from 3 months to 8 months.

If your original application or petition was approved by Vermont Service Center or Texas Service Center (receipt number starting with EAC or SRC), the I-824 should be mailed to USCIS Dallas Lockbox.

If your original application or petition was approved by California Service Center or Nebraska Service Center(receipt number starting with LIN or WAC), the I-824 should be mailed to USCIS Phoenix Lockbox.

In a phone conversation with an USCIS customer service representative, I was notified that due to the large amount of backlog of I-130 in the California process center, there will be very little progress made to Green Card petition filed for siblings in the California process center. So if you filed a petition for your brother or sister in the California process center, do not be TOO concern if the status of your case is stuck at initial review. When the petition is processed, the “priority date” of the petition will be backdated and will reflect when the application is submitted, hence the backlog in the process center should not affect the time it will take to receive green card.

As mentioned in the previous blog, speed at which green card application is processed is not determined by the “family category.” How long it takes to get a green card is determined by “preference category” and the nationality of the immigrant. The higher the preference category (F1 is highest – F4 is lowest), generally the faster the green card will be issued. The different preference category are:

(1)F1 – Unmarried sons and daughters of citizens

(2)F2A – Spouses and children of permanent resident

(3)F2B – Unmarried sons and daughters of permanent resident

(4)F3 – Married sons and daughters of citizens

(5)F4 – Brothers and sisters of adult citizens

The exact time it takes for one to receive a green card fluctuates and can be determined by viewing the latest visa bulletin.

For immigration purpose, it is important to distinguish the difference between “children” and “sons and daughters”. In the context above, “children” is defined as a person under 21 years old, and “sons and daughters” is defined as offspring that is over 21 years old.